GERMANS FAIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23970, 21 May 1941, Page 9

GERMANS FAIL

BRITISH STAND FAST SOLIUM STILL HELD , lIELLFIIiE PASS ACTION (Reed. 5.36 p.m.) LONDON, Mny 20 The Germans failed again to recover lost ground in the muchtrampled Solium area, when two columns sallied out from Fort Capuzzo in an attempt to force IT el Hire Pass. The Royal Air Force gave the Germans a taste of their own medicine by dive bombing them. A Cairo communique says that in the area south of Solium two enemy columns, supported by numerous tanks, crossed the frontier, hut withdrew after being engaged by forward elements of British mechanised forces. According to the latest official news. Imperial forces still hold Solium. So German troops remain on Egyptian soil, but it is believed that they will shortly make an attempt to regain lost ground. There is 110 change in the situation at Tobruk. A Royal Air Force Middle Hast communique quoted in a British official wireless message states: "A large formation of aircraft of the Royal Air Force and South African Air Force carried out attacks on enemy tanks between Fort Capuzzo and Halfaya yesterday, A number of tanks was put out of action and serious damage was inflicted among many motor transport vehicles. Our fighters carried out. extensive patrols, but no decisive engagements resulted. "Benghazi and Derna were attacked by our bombers. Full details of these operations are not yet available, but it is known that considerable damage was caused. During operations over Tobruk yesterday three Junkers 87's were shot down by anti-aircraft fire. "Aerodromes at Monastir and Birehleta in Greece were raided on the night of May 16-17."

ATTACK ON CRETE UNCONFIRMED REPORT GERMAN PARACHUTE TROOPS LONDON, May '2O It is reported in London that an attack has been made on Crete by German parachute troops. There is no further information and the report is not confirmed. The commander-in-chief of the Imperial troops on the island is MajorGeneral B. C. Frevberg, V.C., former commanding officer of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

FUGITIVE EGYPTIAN MACHINE DOWN IN DESERT (Heed. 5.35 p.m.) CAIRO, May 20 The Egyptian Prime Minister, Sirry Pasha, revealed that General Aziz el Masri, former Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Army, escaped with two Egyptian air force pilots as companions and is in the Western Desert, whse air control authorities forced his aeroplane to land. Sirry Pasha is of the opinion that the party will not get far without a conveyance. The fugitive general is charged with a crime against the security of the State. The Egyptian Government earlier offered £IOOO for information leading to the general's arrest.

GIFTS OF MILLIONS

WAR WEAPONS WEEK £300,000,000 LIKELY LONDON'S GREAT RESPONSE (Rood, fi.so p.m.) LONDON, May London's War Weapons Week opened so successfully that it is likely the objective of £100,000,000 will be trebled. The atmosphere in the bomb-scarred capital resembles a country fair, with flags on posts and banners everywhere. Girls are selling kisses for 6d. while business men are handing in cheques for millions. The Lord Mayor, Sir George Wilkinson, was opening the City's saving centre at the Mansion House when Mr. I'. O. (■rump, joint secretary of the Prudential Assurance Company, stepped out of the crowd and handed him a cheque for £5,000.000 worth of 2J per cent National War .Bonds. Sir George annoumed that he had been promised more than £1,000,000 by other commercial houses. Two companies have subscribed £'3,000.000 each, and 20 other companies have contributed a total of £31.000,000. Crowds jammed the selling counters to buy stamps, certificates and bonds. Sixty-two local committees, manned by J.OOO voluntary . workers, gathered contributions throughout Greater Louden. Subscriptions poured in through 1800 post offices, 1800 branch banks and 750 selling centres. Collectors on the Stock Exchange received £200,000 from brokers. Southgate's objective for the week was £250.000, but £300.000 was gathered in by mid-afternoon to-day, Tottenham lias already doubled its objective of £250,000 General Sir Walter Kirkc. former Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces, said Londoners were fighting valiantly on all fronts and those at home were obviously determined not to let them down, a British official wireless message states.

OUTLOOK IN PACIFIC MR. FRASER CAUTIOUS LONDON, May 10 The decision to send an expeditionary force to Greece was absolutely right, said the New Zealand Prime Minister. Mr. P. Fraser, in an interview with the British United Press Cairo correspondent Asked whether the sittiatioji in the Pacific iiad improved, he replied: "If 1 knew what happened when Mr. Matsuoka and Hitler met I could answer that question."

AIRGRAPH LETTERS 85,000 FOR DELIVERY LONDON, May 19 Eighty-five thousand airgraph letters from the Middle East have been received in London and will he delivered throughout the country during the next few days, says a British official wireless message These 85,000 tiny photoletters weighed 201b. The weight of an equivalent number of ordinary letters would he nearly one and a-half tons. The airgraph mail was flown from the Middle East and only nine days have elapsed since its despatch. The first batch of letters under the scheme was received last, Tuesday. Later it, is hoped to institute a similar service from Britain to all sailors, soldiers and airmen serving in the Middle East.